France's Loire Valley is renowned for its magnificent chateaux. Scores are scattered over the landscape and choosing which to see is a challenge. On this leg of our journey, John and I rented a car and made our home base in the quiet village of Chenonceaux, staying in a hotel just 300 meters from the chateau.
Chenonceau Chateau is one of the most visited sites in France for good reason. ... Read Full Article

The 3:47 train from Paris (sounds like an Agatha Christie title) slid swiftly southward into the green Loire Valley, and by 5:30 John and I were in Blois. The hilly town of 50,000 people, rising from the banks of the wide Loire River, was the first stop on this tour of the valley and its famous chateaus.
Armed with maps from the tourist office, we set off in the rain to explore. The Old Town ... Read Full Article

The lush Loire Valley is the home to some of the most beautiful chateaux in France. Set near meandering rivers and streams, these chateaux are monuments to the glorious history of France. There are dozens of beautiful and historic chateaus in the Loire area, including the following four.
Amboise Chateau
The Château at Amboise overlooks the river Loire. It was built in the Gothic and ... Read Full Article